IBM Faces Healthcare Challenges

Executives Share Experience, Healthcare Vision at Conference

Dubai, January 29^th 2008: As the Gold sponsor of the 4^th Annual ' IT in Healthcare' conference IBM is addressing some key issues and trends seen in the healthcare sector at the Arab Health 2008 taking place in Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Center from 28^th - 31^st January 2008. IBM is represented by regional and global executives: Henrik Hoejlund, Healthcare Solutions Leader - North East Europe & Middle East and Dr. Yunus Moosa, senior managing consultant - Healthcare Practice.

IBM on the first day discussed the topic of "The State of Electronic Health Record (EHR)". The Electronic Health Record is one of the most significant developments in healthcare IT. This presentation gave a brief background of how EHR's developed; some of the attributes of an EHR and recent developments. It also addressed some important considerations when implementing an EHR.

Henrik Hoejlund, Healthcare Solutions Leader, Notheast Europe & Middle East said: "Today's healthcare industry is under pressure to effectively manage a consistently higher quality of clinical care while minimising the associated administrative costs and meeting the need for tighter compliance, security and privacy". "IBM is committed to provide healthcare organizations with innovative solutions that will help them respond to these challenges as they expand to meet the demands in the fast-growing Middle East healthcare sector." he added.

On the second day IBM discussed the "E-health, the Danish Experience". Denmark has been at the forefront of e-health and has more than 15 years of experience in building up national e-health infrastructure. This presentation will include:

- Basic infrastructure and communication standards - why is that important

- Roadmap for an EHR - why is every country different?

- Business model - how to fund an e-health infrastructure

- How to get started - what are the quick wins?

"We are pleased to be part of Arab Health 2008. This Conference and Exhibition are the perfect places to showcase our advanced technologies, and the best medium to communicate our latest breakthrough solutions to an audience of high profile executives in healthcare sector", said Takreem El - Tohamy, general manager IBM Middle East, Egypt, and Pakistan.

IBM is demonstrating some of the innovative solutions during Arab Health 2008 at booth CE40.

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For more information on IBM's solutions for healthcare professionals, visit www.ibm/health.

For more information on IBM, visit www.ibm.com